Elevator interlock



April 3, 1929. J. A. BRUBAKER 1,709,970

ELEVATOR INTE'RLOCK Filed July 20, 1927 Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

Join: A. BRUBAXEB, or 'ro nno, oiiIo, ASSIGNOB 1 0 THE nAnen'ronn'LEVA'ronAnn MACHINE COMPANY, OF TOLEDO,

onIo, A oonronzirion or OHIO.

ELEVATQR EDITH-BLOCK.

Application filed July '20,

tioning of the interlock depends upona small spring, and il 'this springis broken or fails to act as intended, the door can be opened whenlhecai' is not there. BTOYOOVGI, with the interlock. stopped.- below thefloor, the door may be. opened manuallyfrom. the inside of the car,without locking the carv against starting. Such conditionsare verydangerous, and it is with the object of correcting same that the presentinvention has been perfected.

l he objects and advantages of the invention will be more specificallyexplained in connectic-n win] the accompanying drawing which illustratesone embodiment thereof v in the drawing 1'' "Figure 1 represents theinvention in elevation as viewed from the inside of the shaft, the coverof the lock casing being removed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 ofFig. 1.

in itsipresent embodiment, the invention is. shown in connection with asliding door 5 having a horizontal bar 6' secured thereto andprojectingbeyond the edgeioli the door where it terminates in. a hook 7.p A lock casing. 8 :is mounted on the side of the-elevator shaft Hitspaced from the door amb '9 a suificient distance so that theinterlocking mechanism will be clear of the corner of the T he hook 7,the door closes, is adaptedito engage in: a recess 10 formed in atumbler 11 mounted on a stud 12 extending from the bottom of thecasingS. The tumbler is held against iinoveinentlengthwise ot-the stud12 1 by a pin 13 or the like. A latch 14 is pivotally mounted on aspindle'15 secured in the lower part of the casing S'and its upperend 16is adapted to cooperate with a projection 17 on the tumbler '11 to lockthe latter againstrocation, thereby locking the door 5 in closedposition. I

The center 0t of the latch 14 at functioning normally, it the car 1527.Serial No. 207,135;

side of the spindle 15 so'that the latch may he held in looking positiongravity alone. It is preferred, however, to provide a coil. spring 18whichalso'tends t0 hol'd'the latch in 7 locking. position. This springis mounted on a stem 19 which projects from the V l aeltoi'the easing 8through anea'r-QO formed on the latch 14 and the ste1n19 is provided at[i is outer end with a head 21' against which the spring 18 is Seated.

Vi hcn the elevator car stops in a position opposite the doorway,thelatch 14 is adapted to be withdrawn froni behind pr0jection-17 ot'the tumbler so as to permit the door to open. To el'l'ect this operationan angular arni. 22 is secured to the lower end of the latch 14 andcarries a roller 3 at its lower end which is engage'able by a retiringcam 24carried by the elevator car 25. The arm 22 is mounted on a pivotbolt26 and has a pin and slot connection Q'Twith the lower. end of thelatch 14 so that it maybe adjusted to the position of the can}. V I

The interlock device may be used in connection-with a retiring cainoi'any suitable construction. By way of. illustration, the

cam 24 is fillOWl'lJiLS carried by links QSpivote ed to thejside oi thecar 25. A solenoid core 29 is pivotally connected to the upper end ofthe cam 24 and when the coil3O is energized the 021111 24-is held inretired. position so as not wires 33 and 34 which are connectedrespectivel'y to bars 35"and 36 of conductive 1113- term]. mounted on-aninsulat ng base--37 secured to the backof the casing 8, An in'sulatingbar 38 is secured tothelatch 14 andgcarries at its enda contact 3 9which is electricah ly connected to thebar 35 by a flexible eonductor'4-O." As soon as the latch 14 is released I and permitted toniove into lockingposition under the influenceot gravity'or the spring18, the contact 39 engagesbar 36 and a circuit is establishedtro1n=thewire 33 through her 35,.conductor 40,: contact 39, bar 36, to'the.

. to engage tlie'roller 23. l Vhen' the coil 30'is lead wire 34. N otluntil the door is locked I and the contact 39' closed, can thefcircuitthrough the car operating motor be' estab-' position so that the latch14 is in position to lockthe door. The coil 30 willbe de-energized andpermit the cam 24 to drop only after the current which operates the caris turned If the car stops in proper position opposite the door, the cam24, as it comes forward, strikes the roller 23 and moves the latch14 tounlock the door, at the same time opening the circuit throughthe contact39 and making it impossible to run the car again until the circuit isclosed.

' lVhen the door is opened, the'hook 7 rotates the tumbler 11 and theportion 44 of the tumbler passes underneath the end 16 of the latch andprevents the latter from being moved to-close the circuit through thecar operating motor until the tumbler 11 has been returned by theclosing of the door. When the door is opened the weight of the largerportion 44 of the tumbler holds it in position to prevent the contact 39from being closed and in position to receive the hook 7 as the door is.closed again.

, It will be seen, therefore, that the car cannot leave afloor until thedoor is clos d and mechanically locked. It isdiilicult to, tamper withthe lock 'or toputit out of commission since the tumbleris diflicult toroll except by the means provided for the purpose and will always dropby gravity to unlocked,

positionit not held. The locking device may be easily installed since itdoes notJrequire any close or accurate seating.

v If any person, by unauthorized tampering with the lock, should succeedin rolling the tumblerto lockinglposition, while the door 'is' open,and, in holding the tumbler in that position while someone pushes thebutton and starts the car, the weight of the portion 44 willnevertheless, assoon as the car again stops at that floor, cause theposition of the tumbler to be rectified so that the normal operation ofthe lock will be restored.

Itwill be obvious that the lock may be used either on swinging. doors orsliding doors It may be reversed for either right hand or left handoperation by reversing the position of the tumbler 11 on the stud 12. Ofcourse, a suitable key may be provided for unlocking the door in Teaseof emergency.

' While the'spring 18 isprovided to assist in holding the latch 14 inlocking position, the

latch is so balanced that it the spring should break or become lost thelatch will still be operated by gravity.

lVhile I have shown and described in considerable detail one specificembodiment of the invention it is to be understood that this is merelyfor the purpose of illustration and that various modifications may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined in the claims.

vVhat I claim is:

1. In an elevator interlock, the combination with a baradapted to beattached to a door and having a hook thereon, of a casing with a tumblerrotatably mounted therein and having a. recess for receiving said hook,a projection on said tumbler, a latch mounted so as to be movable bygravity into position behind said projection to lock the door whenclosed, and gravity actuated means operable to withdraw said latch outof the path of said projection only when the car is opposite the door. p

2. In an elevator interlock, the combinat1on with a bar adapted to beattached to a door so as to project therefrom, said bar vterinlnating na hook, of a casing with a tumbler rotatably mounted-therein and havinga recess tor receiving said hook, a projection on said tumbler, a latch,spring means acting upon the latch to move the same into positionbehindthe projection'to lockthe door when closed, saidlatch being so mountedthat it ismovable into locking position by gravity if the spring meansfails, an operating arm connected with said latch, a retiring cam, andmeans operable tocause said cam, in connection with said operating arm,to withdraw said-latch out of the path of said projection only when thecar is oppositethe door. V V

3. In an elevator interlock, the combination with a bar adapted'to beattached to a door so as to project theretro msaid bar terminating in ahook, or a .fixcd'casi'ng, a tumbler rotatably mountedtherein and havinga recess in its periphery adapted to receive said hook,; meanspositively preventing movement oi said tumbler lengthwise of its axis,

a radial projectionen saidv tumbler, a latch having an end movable bygravity trans versely into the path of said projection behind the sameto lock the tumbler and thereby lock the door-'when'closed, an,operatingarm connected with said latch, aretiringcam, and means operableto cause said cam, in connection with said operating arm, to withdrawsaidlatch out of the path ofsaid projection onlywhen the ear is oppositethedoor.

.4. In an elevator interlock, the combination with a bar adapted tobe-secured to a door so to project therefrom, said bar 'ter-' minatingin a hook, of a tired casing with a tumbler rotatably mountedtherein and1 having a peripheralrecess forreceivingsaid hook,means positivelypreventing movement of said tumbler lengthwise ofits axis, a radialprojection on said tumbler, a latch, spring means acting upon the latchto move the same into position behind said projection to lock tumblerand thereby lock the therefrom and terminating in a hook, of a.

casing with a tumbler rotatably mounted therein and having a recess forreceiving said hook when the door is closed, a'latch engageable withsaid tinnbler to lock the door closed, an insulating block mounted insaid casing, two electrically conductive bars mounted on said block,means for connecting said bars respectively tothe lead'wires of anelectric circuit, a contact carried by said latch and insulatedtherefrom, said contact being electrically connected to one of said barsand in position to establish an electrical connection with the other baronly when said latch is in locking relation to said tumbler. I I V 6. Inan elevator interlock, the combination with a door, of a fixed casingmounted adjacent the doorway, a latch projecting into said casing, arotatable tumbler with which the latch normally cooperates to lock thedoor when closed, meansfor moving the latch to unlocking position whenthe car stops opposite the same, an insulating block mountedv withinsaid casing, two electrically conductive bars mounted on said block,means for connecting said bars respectively to the lead wires of anelectric circuit, a contact carried by said latch and insulatedtherefrom, said contact being electrically connected to one of said barsand in position to establish an electrical connection with the other baronly when said latch is in looking relation to said tumbler, whereby toprevent starting the elevator car unless said latch is in lookingposition. V v v 7. In an elevator interlock, the combination with a doorhaving a bar projecting therefrom and terminating in a hook, of a casingwith a tumbler rotatably mountedtherein and having a recess forreceiving said' hook when the door is closed, a latch engageablewithsaid tumbler to lock the door closed, a circuit for controlling theoperation of the elevator car and including a contact carried by saidlatch, said contact being in position to close said circuit only whenthe latch is in locking relation to the tumbler.

the car'is opposite the 8. In an elevator interlock, the combinationwith adoor, of a fixed casing mounted adjacent the doorway, a latchassociated with said casing, a rotatable tumbler within the casing withwhich the latch normally cooperates-to lock the doorwhen closed, meansfor moving the latch to unlocking position when the carstops oppositethe same, a cirsuit for controlling the operation or the elevator carand including a contact carried by said latch, said contact being inposition to close said circuit only when the latch is in looking 1relation to the tumbler, thereby making it impossible to start theelevator car except when the door is closed and locked.

9.1111111 elevator interlock, the combination with a bar adapted to beattached to a door and having a hook tiereon, of a casing with atlnnbl'er having a notch normally in position to receive said hook, aprojectionon said tmnbler, a latch normally engageable behind saidprojection to lock the door when closed, and means rendered operable byopening the car operating circuit, only when the car is opposite thedoor,'to withdraw said latch out of the path of said projection and toalways maintain it in that position until the car operating circuit isagain closed. i

10. In an elevator interlock, the combination with a door, o'ta barprojecting thereirom 1n the d1 rcction of the amb toward which the doormoves in closing, said'bar terminating in a hook, acasing having anopening which the hook enters as the ,door closes, a rotatably mountedtumbler within me casing and having a notch normally in position toreceive-the} book as it enters through said opening, so that a rotarymovement is imparted to the tumbler, means 0perable to lock said tumblerwith the door closed, and means operable to start the car including anelectric circuit and a switch which is closed by said tumbler lockingmeans when the latteris in lockin g position.

11. In an elevator interlock, the combination with a bar-adapted to beattached to a door and having a hook thereon, of a casing ith a tumblermounted therein and having a notch normally in'position to receive saidhook, a projection on said tumbler, a latch normally engageablebehind-said projection to lockcthe door when closed, and meanscontrolled by the car operating circuit and rendered operable by openingsaid circuit, only when the car is opposite the door, to withdraw saidlatchout of the path of said projeotion and to maintain it ijnthatposition until the car operating circuit is again closed.

,12. In an elevator interlock, thecombination with a bar adapted to beattached to a door and having a hook thereon, of a casing with a tumblermounted therein and having a notch normally in position to receive saidhook, a pro ection on said tumbler, a latch normally engageable behindsaid projection to lock the door when closed, an operating 1 armconnected with said latch, a retiring cam,

' is opposite the door and the current shut off,

and means rendered operable by opening the car operating circuit,onlywhen the car is opposite the door, to cause said cam, in connectionwith said operating arm, to withdraw Said latch .out 01 the path of saidprojection and to maintain it in that position until the car operatingcircuit is again .closed..

13. In an elevator interlock, the combination with a hatchway door, of acasing with a tumbler rotatably mounted therein, means associated withthe tumbler for locking the door; when the latter is closeda-nd thetumbler is in locking position, a car operating circuit, means norm-allyoperable, only when the car tion with a hatchway door, of a casing witha tumbler rotatably mounted therein, means associated with the tumblerfor locking the door closed except when the car is opposite the door, acar operating circuit including contact-s which can be closed only whenthe tumbler is in locking position, and means associated with thetumbler, independent of the door, and tending :to hold the tumbler inunlocking position, thereby holding the carlopcrating circuit open, orto restore it to that position in the event it is tampered with. a 15.In an elevator interlock, the combination with a fastening memberadapted to be attached to a door, of a casing with a tumbler rotatablyniounted'therein, said fastening means being engageable with the tumblerto rotate (the latter from unlocking to locking position as the door isclosed, means associated with the tumbler and the fastening member forlocking the door when the tumbler is in looking position,1neans,0perable only when the door is locked, tostart the car, and meansassociated with the'tunib'ler and operable to move said tumbler tounlocking position, or normally to maintainit n su h position, unless itis moved out of such position by said fastening means. 7 16. In aninterlock, .a tumbler rotatable to looking or unlocking position,fastening means cooperating with said tumbler to, rotate the same fromone of said positions to the other, means to lock said tumblerlockposition, and means, independent of said htstening means and lockingmeans, tending to rotate the tumbler to unlocking position.

[17. an interlock, a tumbler rotatable to locking or unlocking position,fastening means cooperating with said tumbler to rotate the same fromone o fsaid positions to the other, and means to locksaid tumbler inlooking position, said tumbler beingso weighted that it tends to rotateto unlocking position independently of the operationoil the fasten ingmeans and locking means.

In testimony --whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification,

' vJOHN A. BRUBAKEB.

